Profile America: A Kodak Moment!

Monday, September 26 — Simple amateur photography, even selfies, should the idea have occurred, became a possibility for the American public this month in 1888. That’s when George Eastman patented the first camera to use dry, flexible, roll film. Before that, photographers had to use sheet film, glass plates, tripods and cumbersome cameras. Eastman’s hand-held camera — the first to use the brand name Kodak — had enough film on a roll to take 100 exposures. When the roll; was finished, the camera was returned to the factory for unloading, developing, and reloading. Now, most cameras are digital, but photographic film and related products still have a market presence. Manufacturing such film, plates, paper and processing chemicals is a $5.8 billion a year business in the U.S.

Profile America is in its 20th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.